HS Senior struck out of college decisions, where to go from here?
Hi all,
I'm a current senior in hs and I have been looking to this forum for advice from time to time, as I have an interest in finance and find public markets in particular interesting. I applied to colleges this year with a 4.0/4.5, 1580, 9 APs with all 5s, and decent extracurriculars, but was severely disappointed and didn't get into any target schools. I knew that the top schools like Ivies, UChicago, Duke, Stern, Northwestern would be competitive and hard to get into, but I've come out without acceptances from schools like UVA, Michigan, and Georgetown (either WL or Reject).
As it stands, my best option is BC Carroll, but they didn't give me any aid, so I might go with my in-state option UC San Diego (I am waitlisted at LA and Berkeley). I'm just hoping for any advice from you guys about where to go from here, whether BC is worth it, how I might be able to get off the waitlists at Yale, UChi, Stern, UVA, UCLA, or Berkeley, and if I can't, if transferring would be viable or worth it.
Thanks.
How bad was your essay bro 😭
Idk bruh pretty ass I guess
Negotiate with BC, depending on how much it costs that might be a good option as EB/BB placement is possible from there and MM placement is definitely doable if you grind. If not, staying in-state to save money is great too; MM placement from UCSD is possible and you can always lateral to EB/BB. Also, you can somewhat easily transfer to UChicago/Northwestern/Georgetown if you lock in.
Stern, Yale, and UChi waitlists are probably cooked but I wouldn’t give up complete hope on UCLA
You should not even worry. Go to BC if you can afford it or go to UCSD if you can't. Both of these schools send a lot of transfers out. From there, spend the first year doing a few things: highest GPA possible, hard class load, very good EC's (even try to continue one from HS if you can), get involved in research ideally (doesn't have to be crazy time commitment), get close with 1-2 profs for rec letters, and boom, you transfer. Also didn't write there, but a really good story on why transfer.
Transfer to UChicago, Northwestern, Georgetown are not insanely hard (low acceptance rate but if you have a good story you have a decent shot). You can also try places like Vandy, ND, Cornell, UPenn, etc. If you don't recruit immediately, it's okay. Instead a good idea is to come in, delay graduation a semester or 1 year, get used to the school, join clubs, meet people recruit, and you will be fine.
Yes you lose those freshmen year friends b/c you move. Yes it's hard to transfer. Yes you might feel out of place at those schools at first. But also Yes it's worth it. Yes you will make new friends and fit in after a while if you put in the effort. Yes you may spend an extra year in college. No you are not cooked already.
Yeah I think my number one option is going to UCSD making sure I get good grades and then transfer ED to UChi
Fellow Cali resident here - don’t rule out the cc route. Have a few buddies who took full advantage of the 2-yr free program offered by Cali cc’s and transferred to t20 schools, and broke into top eb / bb groups. Definitely less conventional but quite ideal for hard working and determined kids such as yourself. Just have to bite the near term bullet and remind yourself you’re playing the long game.
I've def been thinking about this, I just don't think I can withstand the short term embarrassment of it even if I know it'll pay off (all my friends are going to at least t25 schools). Plus my parents think UCSD is good enough (top 3 UC) so idk if they will let me go to a CC
can’t say in hs I didn’t feel the same “embarrassment” when I was your age, but looking back at my choice to go 2 years CC, transfer with $0 in debt to myself or my parents, and accept an offer at a tier 2 EB, I 1000% made the right choice.
I know you’re disappointed and based on your post you def deserve better, but keep in mind this is a very competitive and very unfair process (much more unfair than IB recruiting). You got into 2+ t30 schools.
If you can afford BC, go. Either way, the difference isnt huge and i’d recommend transferring out, esp for HF recruiting in the long-term. If you really want to do well in finance, pedigree matters. You will definitely get into a Uchi or Northwestern soph transfer.
Et officia voluptatem voluptate iste tempora praesentium culpa. Possimus voluptates commodi perspiciatis rem expedita dignissimos voluptatem. Dolore sed voluptas est consequatur autem doloremque nihil. Laborum qui quos et dolor totam autem aut facilis.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...